App Store

Apple's app gifting option ended with the arrival of iOS 6, but has finally been brought back narrowly in time for the holidays. Joining the service is the new ability to select when you want the recipient to receive your digital gift. Buyers can schedule an app to be sent on Christmas, for example, or on the recipient's birthday.

Google Maps for iOS has already grabbed the top spot in the App Store, only hours after being released, with demand for the mapping and navigation alternative proving sky-high. Currently occupying the number one position in free apps chart, with a 5-star rating based on over 8,000 reviews, the free download returns Google's turn-by-turn navigation and Street View photography to the iPhone. As for why it took a little longer than many hoped for, Google execs point out that it's no straight port of the iOS 5 version.

iPad owners had to wait a little longer than expected for Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition to arrive on their platform of choice, but the wait is over at last. The game, which takes the much-loved RPG from 1998 and enhances it for today's gaming generation, went live on the App Store today. If you've never played Baldur's Gate before, we have to suggest you check it out, but first a word of warning: you're going to spend a significant amount of time on this game.

It's time to get busy with Sony's vast collection of content for multiple different platforms with the first appearance of their browser-based PlayStation Store. This store is set to sell TV and movie content as well as PlayStation games galore, but at the moment isn't quite perfectly synced up for all media that's offered across the platforms it serves. In other words you should certainly check it out, but you won't be able to see everything your PlayStation sees.

Both Apple's iTunes App Store and Google's Play store for Android collectively have over 1.4 million apps to choose from, and surprisingly, more than 50% of the revenue made by these stores in the United States goes to just 25 app developers, according to analytics firm Canalys, which performed a daily survey over a 20-day period in November.

A study looking at app analytics from a company called App Annie Intelligence has been released for the first time. The app analytics firm has released its inaugural study looking at both Google Play and the App Store. The data from analytics firm shows that Google Play revenue is up 311%.

If you've ever caught yourself wishing that real life was like Minecraft, then boy does Mojang have the app for you. Developed primarily by studio 13th Lab, Minecraft Reality is a new augmented reality iOS app that allows you to drop your most cherished Minecraft creations into the real world. Do you particularly like that towering Pikachu pixel art you made with Minecraft blocks? Why not place it into the real world and see what it would look like if a giant Pikachu invaded New York City?

While Apple hasn't officially announced that they've passed the 1 million mark as far as iOS apps (their most recent announcement was for 700,000 apps), iTunes App Store discovery company Appsfire says that over 1 million apps have been submitted and approved in the App Store since its launch over four years ago in July 2008.

Pokéfans take note, because Nintendo has released a new Pokédex app and, of all platforms, it's on the iOS App Store. This is officially the company's first paid app to go live on the iOS App Store, which is a pretty big deal considering how much Nintendo likes to rail against the idea of smartphone gaming. Sadly, it's only available on the Japanese App Store at the moment, and there isn't any word on whether or not it will make its way overseas.

Tumblr has gone all-out with the latest iteration of its app for iOS, version 3.2. The mobile app is now completely native, and brings with it a new Tumblr Dashboard, as well as a host of other features. Users can now update and manage their Tumblr blog from their iPhone in a faster and more responsive way.